Getting Older

As I'm writing this blog entry, it has been almost 6 years since my last post and a lot has happened in my life (amazing and heartbreaking). However, I'm going to talk about how difficult getting older has been for me, especially the past year or so. The most heartbreaking moment of my entire life happened in October of 2017 when my mother passed away. Well, it WAS the most heartbreaking moment until our son passed away in November of 2018. That moment there was and has been the toughest moment of my entire life...hands down. I think about him all of the time. Each morning I wake up and I kiss my bracelet containing his ashes and I follow that up by kissing my ring containing my mother's ashes. That one year stretch has been the most difficult. I know that it could be much worse, but I've managed to have an amazing partner during the ordeal, my wonderful wife. She has been my strongest supporter and has shown me over and over why she is my wife. Aside from all of the emotional happenings, one of the toughest battles I've had to take on recently has been my health. For those of you that know me, I work out almost daily. In 2016 I ran a 5k about 3-5 times a week, I ate healthy, I got a decent amount of sleep each night (5-7 hours) and was doing great at my job. I also ran my first half-marathon (Eugene Half-Marathon in 2018). I only realize this now (because of how much I've aged in the past 2 years), but that was probably the best I have ever been physically. I was down to 195 lbs (down from 240 back in 2011) and I was running with my shirt off (something I never thought I would do and/or be comfortable with). Today, I've been diagnosed with "prepatellar bursitis" which is an inflammation of the bursa sac behind my kneecap. The inflammation is almost ongoing and caused my knee to swell up to the point where bending it is struggle. The toughest things to do when this flares up is getting into my car, using the restroom (sitting down), walking, and simply getting out of bed each morning. I received a cortisone injection a few months ago and things were really good for about 2 months until it eventually wore off. After the injection, I was able to do squats, crawl on my knees to play with my daughter, and run without any issues. However, it has recently returned and I fear that I may have to start coming up with my own solutions to accept this issue that I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. The hardest part is that it makes moving around and simply walking extremely painful. I have been very active since 2011 and I always felt great after I worked out. Now, I feel that I may have to make some adjustments in my life to maintain a physical and healthy lifestyle. I recently ran 3.5 miles on our treadmill the other day (first time since our son passed away) and I was worried that it would flare up again. So, to hopefully avoid this, I elevated my left leg and iced my knee for two 20-minute sessions. It has been two days and I think that it may have worked or, at least, lessened the inflammation that I have become accustomed to. Here are some of the positive changes that I've made in my life in the last couple of years: - completely cut out energy drinks and soda (less than 5 sodas a year; mainly at sporting events, concerts, and at In-N-Out Burger) - eating very little red meat (mainly on holidays, on vacation, etc.) - substituting vodka for beer for calories (I drink about once a week) - meal-prepping each week (one starch/vegetable and one meat) - walking more and running less - increasing my hiking and trail-running Here are some of the other painful issues that I have been dealing with recently: - prepatellar bursitis - abdominal strain (very painful and limits what I can do; sneezing and coughing are EXTREMELY painful; comes on after I run; I believe the main cause may be my running form; adjustments have been made to prevent this from happening again) - gout flareups (I've had these about 5-7 times in my past and it has always been in my right great toe); however, recently, it was in the top of my right foot primarily in the ankle joint; I had to walk with my foot in extreme supination; this caused left leg pain and bilateral hip issues) Here are some of the changes that I have been making to lessen the physical abuse that I have been putting myself through since 2011: - reduce the amount of running I do on hard surfaces (concrete, sidewalks, roads, etc.) - began looking into purchasing an elliptical and a row machine - began trail running (it's a lot more dangerous, but the soft dirt is easier on my knees and running down trails is much better for the knees than hiking because your legs are semi-bent instead of landing directly on each leg) - began working on my upper body by doing, at least, 500 pushups each day - began walking twice a day (1.07 miles each time) by walking around the Muckleshoot pow-wow grounds and back to my office The most difficult thing to deal with is that I have relied on my ability to be physically active as a means to feel good and be happy. When I work out and expel massive amounts of energy, I feel great. I wake up motivated, I sleep better, and I make less poor choices (food-wise) because I'm not feeling down because I cannot work out. When I'm physically unable to workout, I make poor dietary choices, I struggle to fall asleep, I stay up later because I'm not as tired, I'm less focused at work, and I just feel as though I'm in a major funk. Now that I'm on the verge of turning 38, I need to find healthy alternatives in order to prevent further destruction to my body. I will need to stick to a healthier diet (large amounts of vegetables, little to no red meat, lots of chicken/ground turkey, and white meat fish), drinking more water, creating, establishing, and maintaining a low-impact workout plan, meal-prepping each week with my wife, and taking all necessary precautions to reduce side-effects from working out. We cannot avoid aging and getting older; however, there are many things we can do to slow down the aging process and feel healthier in our middle-to-later years. Rehabilitating and taking care of myself after a workout has been my most recent adjustment. From this day forward, I will do what I can to take care of the body that I have and try to keep it healthy for years to come, so that I can be active and healthy with my children and wife. I owe them that much.

Why I Hike

It's strange how one horrible moment in one's life changes a person's life for the better. In July of 2010 I suffered a completely ruptured patellar tendon. Simply put: It's the tendon that attaches the kneecap to the shin. When the tendon "snapped", my kneecap was floating around in my lower thigh and I experienced the most unbearable pain that I have ever experienced. At that time, I was what one would consider a "weekend warrior". I hadn't been conscious of my health and working out for a number of years up to that point. When I returned to school in January of 2005, I had stopped working out and focused solely on my education. So, for five years I had neglected my own personal health to further my education. A few days before my injury, I was camping and hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana...the state that I lived in from 2010 to 2011. The hike that we went on was called Hidden Lake and it was a glacier lake nestled at the base of a mountaintop. It was truly breathtaking and extremely frigid. I had gone on this trip with my fellow Project Vote Smart co-workers and our large group of interns. I can honestly say that my summer, up to the injury, was on pace for being one of the best summers of my life. Living and working in Montana wasn't the best experience that I've ever had, but so many great things came from it. If it weren't for Montana I would have never met some of my many friends that I still communicate with to this day. I also wouldn't have experienced being detached from many of the things that I had grown accustomed to while living in Seattle. The cell phone reception was nearly non-existent, the town of Philipsburg (where I lived) didn't even have a pharmacy, and the closest Starbucks was 1.5 hours away in Missoula. I spent a great deal of time thinking and learning more about myself. In a way, Montana humbled me. Albeit, nearly to a fault, but it made me who I am today. I love the outdoors. Ever since I was a little kid camping with my parents and grandparents, I loved the personal freedom that the serenity of nature provided me. Until my knee injury, I had only just begun to reconnect with that side of myself that had lie dormant for so many years. The time after my knee injury were the darkest and most loneliest days of my life. I had slipped into a world that I had never been in and that I feared would become permanent. After my knee surgery, I was unable to walk without the aid of a cane, crutch, and/or knee brace for the rest of 2010 (nearly 5 months). When I left Montana and Project Vote Smart, I returned home with a new perspective on life. I would never take anything for granted again. At the top of that list was my friends, family, and my health. Not being able to walk was the worst experience in my life. While I lie in bed at night icing my knee and keeping it elevated, I remembered the hike that I went on right before all of this took place. I remembered how much I enjoyed the hiking and how I was able to walk and hike up a mountain covered in snow/ice without having to think about a previous injury, the pain that it was giving me, and having to be careful with each step. My life forever changed after that moment and I will always have to deal with the fact that I am getting older and my younger years of being mobile and physically fit are dwindling with each passing day. I swore to never take my health for granted. In June of 2011, I weighed 240lbs, had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and I was being closely monitored for diabetes. I had allowed myself to get to this point and I had allowed it because I was afraid. After an injury such as the one that I had, a person is always extra careful and overly cautious with everything they do. As for me, I was afraid to walk more than what was needed. When my doctor told me that he was "worried" about my health, I felt something inside of me wake up. Ever since that day, I have made it my mission to work out 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes, eat healthier, drink more water, and to hike as often as I can. Hiking can be as simple as a walk through the forest or as extreme as completing Mailbox Peak (by far the hardest thing I've done and the most physically rewarding thing I've done in years). I became dedicated to constantly be pushing myself physically when it came to hiking. Aside from the physical aspect of hiking, I've found another aspect of it: the serenity of being "one" with the forest and with nature. I leave the noisiness of my house and my neighborhood for the trickle of a creek, the chirping of the birds, the sound of wind blowing through the trees and canyons, and for the feeling I get within my soul. I feel a real connection with nature and there are many times that I stand there on a trail and close my eyes and take in the sounds and smells of the environment in which I'm in. There are many differences between hiking in the rainforest, the desert, in the rain, through the snow, etc. I've experienced all of them this past year and I can't get enough. I like the feeling of researching each hike, preparing for it, driving to the trailhead, enjoying the various views on each hike, and the feeling I get when I'm done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and fulfills my inner-competitive ego. I find camping, hiking, and nature very relaxing and an excellent stress reliever. I enjoy being on a hike alone. I get time to think, to feel my body improving, getting opportunities to take wonderful photos, and gives me an opportunity to do something that most people never even think about. A lot of people my age have kids, go out drinking every weekend, watch TV for hours on end, play video games, etc. There's nothing wrong with any of those, but none of them encapsulate me. I'm only going to be young, healthy, and without kids for so long...I might as well do what I can to make the most of it. Hiking provides me plenty of opportunities to see breathtaking views that one doesn't get a chance to see everyday. In Washington State, there is only a 3 month window to do many of these hikes and it's important to me to do as many as I can before the weather starts to get colder and the snow levels drop. I'm thankful that my parents and grandparents raised me to enjoy the outdoors. If it weren't for my knee injury, I don't know if I would be where I am right now. I'd probably be living in Washington DC, working in politics, stressing myself out, eating poorly, etc. However, I'm living in Washington State. I'm the healthiest that I've ever been, my family is right here and we're closer than ever, I have a good job that pays me well, I have friends that I share a lot of common interests with, I have my favorite sports teams only 45 minutes away (Mariners and Seahawks), and I'm in the most beautiful state in the United States. Where else can you be within a short drive of the desert, mountains, volcanos, the ocean, another country, etc.? Sure, it rains here, but the summer months are absolutely breathtaking. I love the summer months here and I'm so happy to be back. I will return to Montana this summer and I would like to return to Glacier National Park as well. I will return with a new perspective on life. I'm a little older, a little wiser, and I'm a little more accepting of things that I have no control over. What happened to me in July of 2010 was the worst thing that I've ever had to go through and I will have to deal with it for the rest of my life. The pain in my knee each morning will serve as a constant reminder of what took place that fateful day. However, I've gained a new perspective on life. I will no longer take things for granted. I will be spontaneous and do things that I would have not done in the past. I will live my life the way that I see fit. I'm a better person because of what happened. The times from July 2010 to June 2011 were the hardest months of my life, but they humbled me. I'm thankful for what happened. We are all challenged in life and we are supposed to learn from those experiences and live a better life because of them. I can say with absolute certainty that that is exactly what I have done and what I will continue to do for the rest of my life.

Lebron James vs Michael Jordan

One major difference between Michael Jordan and Lebron James: when it's crunch time...you could see the intensity in Michael Jordan's eyes and he played as though every game was his last game. Lebron James always looks like a deer in headlights and like he's scared of stepping up when his team needs him the most. Because of that, he will never win a championship.

Trade Nations

Are anyone's trading needs not being fulfilled? My name is MattMan81 and I'm here for you. Are you going to bed at night with thoughts of uncut lumber and/or uncut rocks weighing heavily on your mind? Do you need someone to hold you at night and tell you that your wool is being woven into cloth? Well, if that's you...I'm your man. Add me.

Tattoos

This is supposed to be read as a satire. Do not take it seriously.

I know that I'm not alone on this particular topic, but it seems that every player in the NBA is completely covered in tattoos. I haven't been paying much attention to the NBA since the Supersonics inhaled their last breath in the Pacific Northwest, but it would appear as if tattoos have become a prerequisite for being in the NBA. Maybe it's just more noticeable on them because more of their skin is exposed compared to other sports. Oh well.

I have come close to getting a tattoo a few times. However, they tend to only be brief moments of consideration and they fade away like the desire to flip dementia patients "the bird". Getting a tattoo wouldn't kill me and I'd probably grow to like it and consider getting more in the future. And that's part of the problem right there. I have an addictive personality. Ask anyone in my family. This would also explain why I drink in moderation and you'll rarely see me drink wine-coolers two days in a row.

I know that if I were to get that "Thug Life" tattoo on my abdomen that I would get hooked on getting "ink done" and feel the urge to get a Mike Tyson facial tattoo, a Charles Manson swastika on my forehead, and a tramp stamp. Sure, I laugh now, but who's to say that I won't get the urge to get that ONE tattoo that most of us think is silly?

Another reason why you'll never see me get a tattoo is because my opinions change more often than a politician from Massachusetts' political position changes. One minute I'm donating money to PETA and the next minute I'm up in Canada clubbing baby seals.

This change usually comes after reading something new that sheds light on a particular point that I may have missed unknowingly or because of the fact that I just didn't feel like challenging myself at that particular time (like the kind of women that I meet in bars/clubs). It's true, sometimes ignorance IS bliss. I can't tell you how happy my life has become now that I have officially stopped wearing condoms when having sex with women. Sure, I may have 12 or 13 pending paternity cases and I have received multiple prescriptions for penicillin, but I like living my life on the edge and just "going with it".

I hope that most of us can agree that a tramp stamp on anyone older than 30 just looks wrong. Each time I see a tramp stamp on a mother tending to her injured child I always think, "Could that kid be mine?"

Another concern that I have is the documentation that the police and FBI have for criminals with tattoos. What if I wake up tomorrow and decide to rob a bank or blow up a courthouse? Do I want my tattoos singling me out or convincing a jury to find me guilty? Not particularly. You can put a hit out on a key eyewitness...you can't do that to a tattoo.

If that's not bad enough, I'm reaching the age where some of my friends are regretting their decision to get certain tattoos. Wait...you mean to tell me that the "Nickelback" tattoo on your left shoulder is directly responsible for random people punching you in the face at bars and world peace rallies? For shame.

I have found myself watching laser tattoo removal videos on YouTube and the person getting their tattoo removed doesn't appear to be enjoying the moment. Besides hitting them in the wallet, it also burns your skin and you have to go in for multiple treatments. I just want to ask these people, " See?! Now, do you regret getting your exes name tattooed on your arm"? It looks like it really hurts, too. The patient is always grimacing in pain and biting down on their bottom-lip like Bernie Madoff biting his pillow his first night in prison.

The point that I'm trying to get across is this: tattoos are permanent. Some people can live with that and I definitely respect that. There is a market for it and a lot of people are employed because of other people's decision to get ink done. I would only consider getting a tattoo if the ink would disappear after a certain length of time...like a "rental". For example: if I got a tattoo of my favorite band and they began releasing Linkin Park-like albums...I'd like to have that tattoo disappear after a few years. I don't know how long I could live with a "Sugar Ray" tattoo after all of the shenanigans that Mark McGrath has put die-hard Sugar Ray fans, like myself, through.

If you have tattoos and you love them, that's awesome and I'm happy for you. However, they're just not for me. They're not for me the same way that bathing on a normal schedule or dating women with high IQs is not for me. I like to see how long I can go before I start attracting flies and how long I can put up with her grunting noises and her Play-Doh sculptures. I tend to appall women as it is, so, please, just disregard my first point about bathing. I hope that you people enjoy your tattoos. The more people that get tattoos now, the more money I'll be making on my investments in laser-removal technologies. Cheers.

Men and Moisturized Skin: A Modern Day Male Dilemma or An Evolutionary Change?

Do guys really worry about how soft and hydrated their skin is? I'm sure you've all seen these Dove bodywash black & white commercials with the popular guy talking about anything but having dry skin. Or the Old Spice commercials with the shirtless guy that says a bunch of random things and bounces around from place to place. You know, he says things like, "Look at me. Now, I'm a horse. Now, I'm underwater and swimming with mermaids. Now, I got your girlfriend two tickets to her favorite artist. No, wait...now, they're pearls." Yeah, that one. What ever happened to guys using a plain bar of soap and washing their hair with Suave or some other cheap shampoo?

Call me a simple man, but I only use a bar of Irish Spring soap and bottle of cheap shampoo. And I don't even wash my hair everyday. I dated a hairdresser for a while and she told me that it's better for guys to not wash their hair every single time they shower. That's it. No loofah, no rag, and certainly no scrub bar (whatever that Axe bodywash thingie is).

I don't see this as a problem, because, let's face it, who am I to tell someone else what's right and how to live their life? I just find it, you know, weird.

You may consider me an old-school type of thinker when it comes to guys. I think most guys should be able to: change their own oil, install window-washing fluid, replace brake pads and wiper blades, rotate their tires, and, God forbid, fix a flat tire; should know the basics of all major sports (goals are scored in hockey and soccer; runs are scored in baseball; and points are scored in basketball, football, and boxing); can fix a few things around the house (duct tape and glue definitely count...it saves money!); and doesn't need more than 7 minutes to take a shower. Yes, I have taken showers that lasted longer than 7 minutes, but those usually came after a camping trip, a long hike, playing a baseball/basketball/football game, etc. But, seriously, if you're a guy and you're in the shower washing and conditioning your hair, exfoliating something, you know what a pumice is and you actually use one, and you use a loofah or a scrub thingie...you're the reason that I'm writing this blog.

Now, I know that not every guy is alike and that some guys are, you know, "guys", and some guys are a "guys' guy". Maybe my viewpoint has a lot to do with the kind of men I was raised by (my father and my Mom's father). Even my Mom was a tomboy growing up and it definitely showed while she raised three young boys. I always remember camping (not the kind where everyone drinks themselves to oblivion and passes out in a random tent, but "real" camping), baseball games, and watching horror movies.

Maybe this is just a form of change and evolution of the male species. Maybe our gender is becoming less "hands-on", caring more about their physical appearance and spending time "maintaining" their looks, and, in a way, becoming lazier (just look at the time spent playing video games and the decreasing number of men in college). Now, I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty or to rag on anyone. I'm simply stating my opinion...even if I'm alone on this particular viewpoint. This wasn't a calculated essay or something that I invested a lot of time in; it's simply a blog/idea that I had and decided to run with. Well, I'm going to go put on my work boots and my Carhartts, do some yard work, and then come back inside to take a 3 minute shower.

Applauding Colby Lewis

This blog is in response to the article written in the LINK below:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-20055731-10391697.html

Richie Whitt, a columnist, criticized Texas Rangers pitcher, Colby Lewis, for missing a scheduled start to attend the birth of his daughter in California. Below is a letter that I have written for Mr. Whitt:

Dear Mr. Richie Whitt,

You are, in every sense of the word, an idiot. Criticizing a man for skipping a start (or work) to attend the birth of his own child; have you no soul, sir? Do you have any idea how many single mothers and fatherless children there are that would love to have a man in their life that took fatherhood as seriously as Colby Lewis? I applaud any man that steps up and plays the "father" and "loving husband" role that many men are too much of a coward to play.

Major league baseball players spend a good part of their lives on the road and away from their friends and family. Many ball players, or any athlete, for that matter, are known to be promiscuous and/or monogamously-challenged. So, when we get a man like Colby Lewis, who makes the sacrifice to be with his wife and family during the birth of their child, you go out there and slam him for making the decision that most people wouldn't even think twice about. In fact, look at the poll on CBS.com which asks, "Was it ok for Colby Lewis to miss a start to witness the birth of his daughter?" Now, go ahead and vote "no" because we all know that's how you feel. When you submit your response, you'll notice that 98% of those that took the poll completely disagree with you and fully support Colby Lewis' decision to be home with his family during the birth of his daughter.

Being a "man" is not something that one can earn solely based on his age, his job, what he owns, how much money he has, or the number of women he's able to sleep with. Many attributes constitute what truly makes a "man" and I'm sure that I'll leave out quite a few of them. However, here are some of the ones that I think are most important: 1) assumes responsibility for his actions; 2) if he has children, he does everything that he can to give his children the life that he never had; 3) many men die alone and many take love for granted...so a real "man" recognizes that what he has is special and does everything within his power to make her feel loved, protected, special, beautiful, and needed; 4) does everything that he can to improve himself (academically, economically, spiritually, health-wise, etc.); 5) when a child that he helped create is born, that child becomes priority #1; 6) and he does everything that he can to help and take care of societies most vulnerable (elderly, single mothers, children, etc.)

You see, Mr. Whitt, many of the problems in society stem from the fact that "men" just have not been doing their part and have not been encouraging other men to do what is right. Young children enter gangs because that is the only love and support that they can find. They commit crimes because they didn't have a father at home to discipline them and to demonstrate morality. They abuse women because a real "man" wasn't there to show them how to properly treat a woman. Can you imagine what this country would be like if society didn't have those problems?

I am fortunate enough to have had two loving and motivated parents to raise me and that did everything in their power to give me the life that they never had. There were many times that we were barely scrapping by, drinking powdered milk, eating food given to us from friends and neighbors, wearing clothes from Goodwill or hand-me-downs from my parents' co-workers, etc. Despite how difficult it was for my parents, there was never a moment of despair, sorrow, or noticeable difficulty. Although it was hard for them, they did everything within their power to take us camping, celebrate every holiday, to see movies at the drive-in, take us to the park, to give us wonderful and memorable Christmases, and to teach us the power of love and of family.

I know all of the characteristics of a strong, single mother because I was raised by one. I know all of the characteristics of a strong, single man because I was raised by one. Even though our parents were divorced, my brothers and I never experienced the ills that plague many broken homes and divorced families. My father didn't have to stay in Washington, but he did. He stayed here because he knew the importance of a man's role in his son's lives. He was there every other weekend and every other Tuesday and attended all of our baseball games and school events; as did our mother.

There are many ways in which a man can earn the title of a "man". My Father had his way, your father had his way, you have your way, and Colby Lewis has his. I don't know what kind of an upbringing he had and neither do you. However, you and I can both recognize and acknowledge that he's doing what he feels he needs to do in order to be there for his wife and family, to be a loving husband, to be a father, and to, ultimately, be a "man".

It's important for men, like you and me, to encourage other men to be responsible and to be there for their families. Slamming a man for doing what's right reflects poorly on, not only you, but on all men. It sends out the wrong message. Colby Lewis did what he needed to do and we should be applauding him, not discouraging him.

Sincerely,

Matthew Thomas Cornwall

Unemployment: Roller Coaster Ride Part II

In exactly one week I will have been unemployed for three full months. Due to my somewhat large tax refund, I've been able to still pay all of my bills while staying at my father's place. However, that refund has slowly dwindled away and I feel as if I'm slowly slipping into the dark emotional void that enveloped me for 3+ months after my graduation from the University of Washington in August 2009.

However, I swore to myself that I wouldn't allow that to happen again. Thus far, I've been fairly successful. Sure, I have my difficult days and sometimes lie in bed at night wondering about how bad it could possibly get. I wish that I could spend more time with my friends and family, but going out, driving (with high fuel prices and no car insurance), and paying for things just cut into my dwindling savings account.

I recently read that individuals that are currently unemployed are more susceptible to stress-related depression and heart attacks. Knowing that and knowing how I felt the first time around, I planned ahead and constructed a daily planner. I hope that some of you who are going through something similar to me find what I say to be helpful and use it to keep yourself mentally sharp, motivated, and not depressed.

My Daily Tasks:

1) Watch something that makes you laugh. For me, it was random stand-up comedy clips off of YouTube or Netflix or entire episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Google Video, Hulu, and/or Netflix. It may seem that you are "wasting time", but, more than anything, you're helping yourself by increasing your endorphins and starting your day off on the right foot.

If it's not something humorous, I watch inspirational videos. They have clips of them on YouTube. Most of them are from movies and a few of them are from motivational speakers (my favorite being Nick Vujicic...truly inspirational). The key to this entire period of your life is to maintain a positive attitude, to stay hungry, to believe in yourself and your abilities, and to know that there truly is a "light at the end of the tunnel".

2) Check job advertising sites. When you check job advertising sites, make sure to search for jobs that you know that you're definitely qualified for, but look for others that you may be interested in or might find something that you'd like to do if and when you don't have much success in your primary field. Make sure to save your searches. This will keep your searches shorter and more precise. It will also cut down on sifting through jobs that you know that you wouldn't want or aren't qualified for. For me, these particular jobs were IT and computer programmer positions.

3) Exercise is very important. Looking for a job is a full-time job. However, you don't expel as much energy looking for work as you would if you were to actually be at work. It's important to use up your body's energy each day. This will prevent abnormal sleeping habits and keep you feeling as though you accomplished something during the course of the day. It may not seem like much, but, trust me, it is. It'll definitely help your self-esteem and will help you feel more accomplished.

4) Eating healthy and avoiding a "roller coaster diet". A "roller coaster diet" is anything that is high in sugars and/or carbohydrates. Anything that gives you a sudden rush of energy. The downside of this is that you will eventually have to come down and, at times, you may find yourself "crashing". This could ruin an entire day for you. It's important to eat foods that keep your metabolism consistent and not to consume things that your body normally doesn't need.
- Things to eat: fruits, vegetables, wheat bread, fruit juice, yogurt, oatmeal, cheese, etc.
- Things to avoid: soda, sweetened coffee, anything with noodles, fast-food, bagels, white bread, crackers, etc.

5) Maintaining a "normal" social life without spending money that you really can't afford. Visiting family, playing softball/basketball with your friends, going to see a movie (try seeing matinees and avoid purchasing soda/candy/popcorn...sneak it in), going to the library/bookstore, striking up conversations with random people (if you see someone in line with something that you might buy or a product that you enjoy...say something to them...make them smile), and spend time with children (nieces, nephews, sons, daughters...if possible). I'd advise hanging around schools and/or playgrounds. haha. I have also found a social group that has the same interests as me. I visit Meetup.com and find topics that I'm interested in, groups that already exist, and find the ones that are closer to me, so that I don't have to travel too far. This will help you find ways to get out of the house, to engage with other like-minded individuals, and to feel the accomplishment of filling your schedule with something constructive and social.

6) This may be something that only I do, but I like to find ways to remember the difficult times. I have definitely had my "ups" and "downs" over the past few months and I have made sure to find ways to remember them. To do that, I like to keep a journal or a blog. Now, I know that I haven't blogged much in the past few months and that is because I have been writing down so much. These "personal blogs" are primarily for myself to read at a later date. For example, if I'm having a particularly difficult day, I write down what happened (didn't sleep well, overslept, etc.), what I did, how I'm feeling, and what I think will happen in a few months (measure my levels of optimism/pessimism). When I finally land a decent job, I will read back on these during difficult times with the new job or in my life and see that I have been through more difficult times and that I managed to see my way through them. It's important to remember the hard times in life because, in my opinion, it makes you truly cherish and appreciate the good times in your life. It also helps you realize that, although a situation looks and appears to be difficult, that you have been through tougher times and managed to get out alive and on top.

Spending too much time on tasks or things that consume large gaps of time might be worth setting aside until you get things back in line. For example, I was watching the X-Files and trying to finish up all nine seasons. When I left Montana, I was in season 5 or 6. I've only managed to watch a few since getting home and I've done that because I have the tendency to become distracted (I've had ADD my entire life...I know myself almost too well) and I might spend an entire day watching nothing but episodes.

If you're having difficulty falling asleep at night, I'd recommend reading something fun. Or, as I like to call it, "candy reading". Read something that interests you or that doesn't make you feel as though you're back in college or school. For me, I avoided most non-fictions (foreign policy, history books, etc.) and I began reading books on the zombie apocalypse. Now, I know that may sound funny (and I've attempted to explain my obsession with horror movies and zombies my entire life and I've managed to get, pretty much, nowhere), but I enjoyed reading them and I managed to doze off after a while. The eyes slowly begin closing and you start trying to find a page that ends with a "period" or where a paragraph ends. This is a good spot to mark your page and finally go to sleep.

Reading books is another way to keep your mind active and to make you feel as though you've accomplished something during the course of the day. That's one of the most important things that I cannot stress enough. Making goals for yourself to accomplish, although small, are very important for you and for those around you (kids, spouse, parents, etc.).

When you're unemployed, another important thing to do is to take a shower first thing in the morning. I have had days where it would be nearly 2pm or 3pm and I'd still be in the shorts/sweats that I slept in the previous night. It's important to make your body and your mind feel as though you're still in a routine and still getting up at a reasonable hour and getting ready for the day. Even though you may not plan on going out, running errands, or coming in contact with people it's important that you get yourself into a comfortable routine.

Another thing that I try to avoid are late nights. The weekdays are easier than weekends, obviously. I always try to be in bed by 9pm or 10pm on the weekdays and I try to get up around 6am. On the weekends, however, I feel that it's important to allow yourself a little "wiggle room" or to allow yourself to make an excuse for bending and breaking the rules a little. This is a way to reward yourself. This is important to do because rewarding ourselves is something that most of us like to do after we get paid or feel like doing something nice for ourselves after a difficult day/week.

During the weekends, I like to plan on watching a movie or to go out for breakfast with my Dad and stepmom. If they offer to take me out for breakfast and since I'm already up and ready to rock n roll, I accept their offer. This provides a healthy breakfast experience (at least in my family). We sit around the table, discuss politics/movies/family/etc., drink coffee/orange juice/V-8, and we start our brains off on the right foot. In my opinion, it's important to get your brain going.

Another thing that I like to do in the morning is to read the news. After the NY Times started limiting my number of free articles to read to 20, I've had to go elsewhere to find things to read. Being that I'm a political junkie, I like to read articles/blogs on POLITICO, Huffington Post, American Thinker, Washington Post, News Tribune/Seattle Times (always have to get my local news "fix"), The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Council on Foreign Relations, BBC News (it's always good to get a non-American view of world news...makes you feel as though you don't live in a "box"), FOXNews, and Al Jazeera English. I admit that I find myself visiting The Onion and finding something funny to read and laugh about. Like I said, laughing is very important during this process and could be the difference between a good day and a bad day.

During the course of the day, I also like to drink a lot of water. Doing this will, obviously, increase your daily visits to the restroom. This is a good thing. Having to get up, move, and relieve yourself (I know it sounds gross, but trust me) is a good way to take a minor "break" in the day and to get your blood circulating.

From all of my days in school, I have taken courses in social sciences (political science, sociology, etc.), mental health (psychology, public speaking, etc.), nutrition (weight training, basic physical education, anatomy and physiology, etc.). I feel that having taken these classes, I have gained a very good understanding on how the body works. I know what foods are good for me and which ones aren't; I know ways to maintain your body's energy throughout the day and burn the excess energy so that you don't have too much when you're trying to go to sleep; I know specific workouts that target a specific and/or a particular part of the body; I know that engaging in conversation with someone new is almost always a positive experience; I know that laughing and finding moments to be immature are okay and are healthy for you because endorphins are secreted in the brain during laughter and endorphins help fight stress; and I know how to reward myself while, at the same time, being productive.

Now, I know that this won't be helpful for everyone, but it's my hope that this will reach a few people that struggle with trying to see "the light at the end of the tunnel" or to maintain an optimistic view of the world and of their life. Going through a difficult time, such as this, can weigh heavily on your physical health, your relationships, and your mental health. It's important to find ways (either mine or finding your own) to keep your body and mind operating on levels that were similar to when you were working and not having to worry about bills. It's important to maintain a daily routine, to laugh, to inform yourself and to stay informed, to not get caught up in expensive things (financially and/or time-wise) that may end up hurting you more than they help, to socialize and rediscover the healing power of meeting new people, to embrace your innocence and immaturity for moment or two each day, to keep a record of your successes and your struggles, and to, ultimately, steer clear of becoming pessimistic, unhealthy, and depressed. This has worked for me and I hope that you find something helpful in it as well. Thank you.

All-Star Games

In my opinion, the only sport that offers an all-star game that means anything is the Major League Baseball All-Star game. The NHL all-star game doesn't have the same feeling as a regular NHL game (minimal hits and body-checks, but definitely much better than what the NFL and/or NBA have to offer), the NBA All-Star game is all about offense, and the Pro Bowl is one of the most boring games to watch because nobody tries to tackle anyone.

There needs to be more incentive for playing in an all-star game. The NFL's Pro Bowl doesn't feature any players from the current year's two Super Bowl teams and it's held at the end of each season (when the competitiveness of each player has completely fallen off). I've never seen so many players simply "walking" into the endzone untouched.

Nobody in the NBA wants to try to block a dunk or challenge any shot in the paint. It has become the ultimate celebration of ego-centrism and not about what it claims to be about, "the team". I like watching the dunk contest, the rookie vs. sophomore game, and the celebrity game, but I haven't watched an actual NBA All-Star game for as long as I can remember.

The winner of the MLB All-Star game has home-field advantage in the World Series. If the National League wins, the National League team in the World Series will play 4 game at home instead of 3 (regardless of their record). This brings out the very best in every player participating in the Mid-Summer Classic. That could mean the difference between winning the World Series or losing it. No other sport offers the same thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love all sports. However, when it comes to watching the games' best...I stick to watching baseball. True, baseball is also my favorite sport, but I think that it is the only sport that presents a truly meaningful all-star game.

Using Negative Situations As Inspiration

Date: January 28th.
Location: Great Divide Ranch in Philipsburg, Montana
Time: 2pm

Background: I took a job with Project Vote Smart in December of 2009 and started it in January of 2010. I would be moving from Tacoma, WA to Philipsburg, MT. I was excited and, at the same time, skeptical. I would be leaving all that was familiar to me for the majority of my life for a job in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and with an organization that didn't pay very well at all. I never held this against PVS because they're a non-profit organization that was surviving in the worst economic climate since the early 1980s and were still up and running. They also employed recent college graduates, which were hungrier than most employable people and were willing to work for less. That tends to be the case for recent college graduates in their low-to-mid 20s, but not for someone that was almost 30 and had worked for more money.

Despite multiple offers from other jobs, I accepted the position because I had used PVS' website in the past and I had a lot of respect for the organization. They stood for truth, openness, and integrity in the political electoral process and this struck a chord with me personally because I despised partisan politics and political apathy. This was a way for me to directly contribute to the solution to a lot problems that I had with the political process. I was stoked. The next year of my life would become the most difficult year that I had yet to encounter and, yet, completely changed me as a human being. It also introduced me to amazing people that I am still very thankful for having met.

Before I left for Montana, my Dad and I spent about an hour talking and tearing up in the driveway. From the time I graduated from the University of Washington (June 2009) to the time I left (January 2010), we had grown closer together during the time that I lived there while looking for work. I also found it difficult to be leaving my best friend (my brother, Phil), my Mom, my nephew, Tyler, and all of my friends that I have been friends with since elementary, middle, and high school.

The ten hour drive to Montana was long, tiring, and eye-opening. The more I drove, the more lost I felt. I no longer saw the familiar surroundings of a Starbucks coffee, shopping centers, and/or popular fast-food chains. I had left familiarity for a life of obscurity.

At a certain point in Montana, my GPS stopped working and I would have to resort to using the Mapquest maps that I had printed on my computer at home. My car was completely full and each time I shifted gears my elbow and forearm would bump into something in the back of my car and in my passenger seat. I was amazed that I had managed to fit everything into it.

The closer that I had gotten to the Great Divide Ranch the more I found myself saying, "What the hell am I doing?! This is crazy. There is absolutely nothing out here. Can I really do this?"

I followed the directions to a "T" and found myself, eventually, losing cell phone reception coming up this long dirt road infamously titled Moose Lake Road. All of my fellow PVSers can attest to their love/hate relationship with this particular road. The first time my car entered this road would be the last time that my car wouldn't rattle or make weird squeaky noises. This road was the bane of my existence while I lived in Montana.

When I first got there, I was tired, cold, and anxious as to what awaited me. My now good friend, Aaron, was the first to greet me at the front. He was the manager of the Ranch and immediately began introducing me to the other six people that lived on the Ranch. I spoke very little that night and managed to go to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow...I was dead tired.

My second day of work, we had a huge bonfire for a staff member that was leaving (I would later learn that the guy that the bonfire was for was a huge pervert and had a "tramp stamp"; you read that correctly folks, a dude with a "tramp stamp"). This wasn't a few logs stacked together...this was a recently torn down barn. Yeah, it was huge. After standing around the fire drinking, everyone decided to drive into town and go to the White Front (one of the three bars in town and, by far, the most popular). By popular, I mean that the beer was cheap, the regular clienteles had probably been drinking there since they were 11, and it was the only place with a shuffle board in town. I decided against going with them because I was sick. The combination of adjusting to the elevation gain, lack of hydration, and drinking a lot of beer got to me.

As I lied in bed, I suddenly realized that I wasn't the only one that decided against going into town to drink (Side note: the "drive" into town was a 45-minute drive down an ice-covered mountain road followed by a winding country road with deer, elk, etc.). One of the other staff members was in his room singing along with Bob Dylan. Now, I don't know how one could possibly sound worse than Bob Dylan, but this guy did. Ironically, he and I would become rather good friends.

The following morning I managed to fall asleep with my earplugs in and failed to hear my alarm that went off at 6:15am. The Bob Dylan impersonator came into my room in his underwear, turned off my alarm, and told me that I had woken up everyone on the Ranch and that he wasn't very pleased with me at the moment. I immediately felt like an ass.

Work went well for the first six months that I was there until July 20th, 2010. I was playing in a work-sanctioned basketball tournament with staff members and interns when I had a complete rupture of my patella tendon and my life immediately took a turn for the worst. I don't think that many people truly understood what this moment was like for me or how hard difficult it made my life and how much it affected the next year of my life.

This unfortunate accident happened after work and a week before my medical coverage began. Sitting in the back of the SUV with two of the interns, I immediately knew that this was going to be bad. I knew that I would get no help from Project Vote Smart and that I would have to personally pay for every cent of every single medical bill. After it became apparent that I would have to get surgery and pay for this all out of pocket, I knew that this would ruin my credit and clean out every single bank account and piggy bank that I owned. I managed to scrape up $1,600 (the amount needed to, at least, GET the surgery taken care of...half of the surgery center costs). The longer I waited to get the surgery, the more realistic permanent physical disabilities would become for the remainder of my life.

I was only 30 years old. I wasn't some out-of-shape weekend warrior; I was athletic and in pretty good shape. Why did this happen to me?

The surgeon told me that I would struggle with this for the remainder of my life and that it was just a reality that I would have to grow to accept. However, for those of you that have been through a similar predicament, accepting the fact that you're actually not as strong as your mind thinks is a very difficult thing to do. This, apparently, is what getting old is like.

My roommate and great friend, Chris, did all that he could to help me drive 1.5 hours to my surgery and to my pre-op appointment. I knew that he did all that he could, but I still would have to attend weekly physical therapy appointments and follow-ups with the surgeon. There was only so much that he could do without jeopardizing his own job; at a certain point, I would be on my own to drive to Missoula for the many follow-ups and physical therapy treatments.

I have a manual transmission and I was unable to bend my left knee for nearly four months. Imagine trying to sit down to take a crap without being able to bend your left knee; seems pretty challenging, doesn't it? One, basically, just lines up and falls straight down on the toilet seat. For those of you that didn't want that image in your head, you're welcome.

Driving was particularly difficult. Each week and each time that I had to drive, I would use an aluminum baseball bat to push down on the clutch each time that I shifted gears. I did this for each of the 45 minute drives to and from work and the three hour (round trip) drives to Missoula once a week (sometimes twice for medication because the town that I lived in didn't have a pharmacy). When I was able, I would take a ride with Mark or Chris, but my inability to bend my knee made it difficult to get around and/or sit in the backseat or, for that matter, any seat.

I did this for nearly four months. My personal life and my professional life were nearly impossible to bear.

I also had to sit at my desk and elevate and ice my knee for nine hours each work day. When I had to get up to use the restroom, I had to strap on my knee brace (which took 3-4 minutes each time), squeak my way to the restroom, unstrap and strap my knee brace to go to the bathroom (regardless of my reason for having to go), and to unstrap my knee brace when I returned to my desk (another 2-3 minutes).

For the first two months after my surgery, I was forced to use a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine that, basically, assisted in bending my knee while I slept. The picture at the top of this blog entry is what I had to sleep in each night. I don't know why the guy in this photo is smiling because having to use this thing each day and to sleep in it is no walk in the park. This guy must have had some really great pain medication because I sure didn't.

For most of my life, I never slept on my back. However, with the CPM machine, I was forced to do so.nSo, from looking at this photo you can see how extremely difficult this was on me. Each night, for nearly three months, I got a maximum of four or four and a half hours of sleep each night. This entire phase of my life almost seems like a blur to me and, if it weren't for my friend/roommate, Chris, I'm not sure I would have made it through.

Almost everyone at my job was extremely supportive and understood the kind of hell I was going through at the time. Well, almost everyone...except for two people whom I will not mention at this particular time. I will, however, say that karma is a bitch and they got exactly what they deserve.

I rarely left my apartment for nearly 4 months except to buy groceries and to go to work. I lay in my bed for hours and days at a time. My weekends would be over before I even knew they began. My co-workers would go out for drinks and nights of debauchery and I would be stuck at home. Days blended into nights, nights into days.

My medical bills and living expenses left me with very little moving room financially. For the year that I worked for Project Vote Smart, I barely cracked $17,000 in 2010. I would only have $20-$25 for groceries every two weeks. I also missed my brother's wedding because I couldn't drive at the time and my orthopedic surgeon felt that flying a day after surgery would be extremely troublesome and could cause complications after the surgery. I was supposed to be my brother's Best Man and I was supposed to plan his bachelor party. My knee injury caused me to miss out on his wedding and it caused me to miss out on most of my own life.

I know that the above descriptions seem long and extremely detailed; I did this on purpose. For people to truly understand just how difficult things have been for me since July 2010, those things needed to be said. I kept journals about how depressed I was, how horrible I felt, how much pain I was in, how difficult daily tasks were, and how my life felt as though it was slipping into a dark and desolate abyss.

Despite all of this, I managed to focus on every little detail and I wanted to feel each and every moment of this life-altering experience. I wanted to remember all of it and use it as motivation for the future. Because I did that, I, now, cherish each and every moment of each day. Each time I walk down a hall, up or down a flight of stairs, or jump...I remember how I felt never knowing whether I would ever be able to do any of that again; each step is a blessing. Each time I lie in bed at night, I remember how horrible those three months were when I had to sleep with my leg in that CPM machine. Each time I laugh, I remember how very little I laughed in 2010. Sure, I laughed here and there, but I always did so with my knee pain in the back of my mind. Each laugh was a momentary sense of happiness in the darkness that had engulfed my life.

The Situation: I had hobbled my way towards the meeting room with Kristen and one of the two that shall remain nameless. Up to this point, I knew what was about to happen because this "particular person" was out to get me for quite some time and I hadn't been the same since I had my knee surgery a few months before. #1 (my director AKA one of the two that shall remain nameless) was one of two employees that didn't give two squirts of piss about me when I injured my knee. #1 and #2 (#1's evil, soul-consuming girlfriend) didn't like me for a number of reasons. I was social, got along with everyone, went out and had drinks and went on hikes and camping trips with everyone else, and, to them (#1 and #2) was a constant thorn in their side. I was cool with #2 for a while when she first got to the Ranch, but her true colors began to come out after #1 began to slowly gain control of her way of thinking. They're just two of the most repugnant people that I think that I have ever met and I hope that they remain together because I wouldn't want to see either of them corrupting another free-thinking soul. I also hope that they never reproduce. So, Kristen and #1 sat me down, explained to me that they were letting me go, and that today would be my last day. I slightly remember what they said, but as soon as I heard what I needed, I only had a few immediate thoughts. My immediate thoughts: Because next month's rent was due the following Monday, I already knew that I would be heading back home that weekend. Seattle was only nine hours away. My first worries were for my, then, roommate, Brandon. Project Vote Smart doesn't pay very much and it was difficult for any employee to pay their bills (even with a roommate) and pay for basic necessities. I was going to be leaving that financial burden on him. I would also be risking the possibility of breaking our lease agreement and face, only, my second bout with unemployment in my life. I've been working since I was 14 and I've never had a problem finding work. After I had graduated from UofW in June of 2009, even with a bachelor's degree, I struggled to find work for five months. I also knew that economic climate in the United States had not improved and that finding work was going to be another hard-fought struggle.

I didn't tell Brandon the news, at first, because it was still a shock to me and, frankly, I was a bit embarrassed by the entire situation. I, first, called my parents to tell them the news. My Dad offered me a place to stay until I found work. It was a great relief to know that, but did very little to lessen the sting of the wound that had been inflicted just hours before.

When I told Brandon the news, he was shocked. At that moment, I'm sure his worries were a lot like mine. All of the financial responsibilities of our current living arrangement would be, immediately, his burden to bear. He managed to handle the situation very well and, if he weren't the type of person he is, I would probably still be dealing with a lot of those problems.

As soon as I got home on January 31st, I put in for unemployment. However, the one person that disliked me from the first moment he met me, fought my unemployment pay for months. By the time I finally began receiving unemployment, it was June. I had managed to stretch my tax refund for four months.

Situation: I was in the back conference room with Project Vote Smart's National Director and the director of my department. They were telling me that I was being "let go". I was shocked, floored, and, well, scared. I've never been in a situation like this before.

I don't think that I uttered a single word during the entire ordeal. Their voices were drowned out by the many thoughts running through my mind. As bad as this seemed at the time, there was a sense of satisfaction...a sense of completion. You see, I was wondering when my time in Montana was over and hoping for that day to come; I was finally returning home.

Despite the fact that I didn't plan for it to come about this way, in a sense, I was happy. As much as I would miss my co-workers and friends, I wouldn't be missing a select number of people still remaining at PVS and I certainly wouldn't be missing Montana.

For some, Montana was a nice little getaway from their everyday worlds and was a place to self-reflect, relax, and to work for an organization that, in principle, was a great idea.

For people like me, Montana is a great place to visit, not to live. My first few months in Montana were great because the situation was different, I enjoyed the work I was doing, and it was nice spending a lot of time getting to know the people that I was living and working with.

You see, when I agreed to take a job with Project Vote Smart, I agreed to move to Montana, work for peanuts (I barely cracked $17K in 2010), and live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Reading my description doesn't truly do reality any bit of justice. The winter months in Montana are cold, lonely, and testing. At night, I had to wear a pair of thermal underwear, two pairs of sweatpants, two pairs of socks, a shirt, a sweatshirt, and a hoody.

Not having a cell phone can be a sense of newly discovered freedom. The chains in which come along with owning a cell phone were cut. My only connection to the outside world was through emails and the internet. I rarely spoke to my family on the one telephone that we all had to share.

The cold winter months made driving conditions dismal at best. Getting around was difficult and I found myself not being able to leave the Ranch for weeks at a time. Cabin fever is a real psychotic state-of-mind, believe me.

Working for Project Vote Smart made me realize certain things about myself that I never knew before. I never knew how much I would miss the daily social interactions that I used to take for granted; the casual conversation that I would have with random people in a bookstore or in line at a grocery store. From having lived in Seattle for a few years, I missed the site of a Starbucks. I longed for ethnic food (preferably Thai, Pho, and Mexican). I never knew that the site of a woman chewing tobacco would make me sick to my stomach.

But most of all, I realized that I needed things that living in Montana would not be able to provide me. My personality clashed with it on so many different levels. The reason that I lasted as long as I did in Montana was because of the few people that I worked with that became life-long friends that I will never forget. The connections that one makes with others in similar situations is stronger than any other connection. In a way, it's the same kind of connection that a prisoner makes with a fellow prisoner. You're both forced to be there and you both try to make it work.

However, I got extremely lucky. Despite all of the negative things that happened to me in 2010, I managed to make some really wonderful friends. I won't name names, but they know who they are. One of them, should I get married, will, most likely, be one of my groomsmen. He's the one that managed to help me out during the darkest days and the roughest of times. We both helped each other out and we both managed to create a bond that will definitely stand the test of time. In fact, I really miss the guy and I can't wait to see him again. If there were such a thing as a heterosexual-lifemate, he would be that person.

Nerds vs Athletes

I did not write this. I just thought that it was funny.

Nerds vs Athletes

Michael Jordan having "retired," with $40 million in endorsements, makes $178,100 a day, working or not.

If he sleeps 7 hours a night, he makes $52,000 every night while visions of sugarplums dance in his head.

If he goes to see a movie, it'll cost him $7.00, but he'll make $18,550 while he's there.

If he decides to have a 5-minute egg, he'll make $618 while boiling it.

He makes $7,415/hr more than minimum wage.

He'll make $3,710 while watching each episode of Friends.

If he wanted to save up for a new Acura NSX ($90,000) it would take him a whole 12 hours.

If someone were to hand him his salary and endorsement money, they would have to do it at the rate of $2.00 every second.

He'll probably pay around $200 for a nice round of golf, but will be reimbursed $33,390 for that round.

Assuming he puts the federal maximum of 15% of his income into a tax deferred account (401k), his contributions will hit the federal cap of $9500 at 8:30 a.m. on January 1st.

If you were given a penny for every 10 dollars he made, you'd be living comfortably at $65,000 a year.

He'll make about $19.60 while watching the 100 meter dash in the Olympics, and about $15,600 during the Boston Marathon.

While the common person is spending about $20 for a meal in his trendy Chicago restaurant, he'll pull in about $5600.

This year, he'll make more than twice as much as all U.S. past presidents for all of their terms combined. Amazing isn't it?

However...
If Jordan saves 100% of his income for the next 450 years, he'll still have less than Bill Gates has today.

Game over. Nerd wins.

All It Took

My eyes were focused elsewhere,
Then she came along,
A smile is all it took,
I was content being gloom,
Her beauty parted the clouds,
A glance is all it took,
My heart held a steady rhythm,
She sent my heart racing,
A moment was all it took,
In a world of nothing,
She was everything,
Her laugh is all it took,
A blinding haze before me,
Clarity was she,
Her image was all it took,
A growing sense of desire,
A distance eliminated,
All it took was her.

Auto-Correction Software

Dear Texting Auto-Correction Software,

You have always been there for me through the hardest of times and the
easiest of times. You have corrected my typos and helped guide me
towards finding the correct spelling of many difficult words. However,
I have reached my tipping point.

When I begin to type in a word, such as “sh*tty” (commonly used as an
adjective to describe how my day is going and/or how I feel at that time), you
automatically change it to “shorty”. This has become a problem. I,
like so many other people, find it acceptable to curse from time to
time. I think that one should definitely set personal limitations when it comes to
cursing, but I still think that people should be able to say and write
whatever their hearts desire. I would truly appreciate it if you could
look the other way whenever I felt the urge to be vulgar and
socially unacceptable. They aren’t your words; they’re mine.


Much Obliged,

Matthew Thomas Cornwall

Christmas To Me

Last night, during the Yule Celebration in Philipsburg, I got to witness someone make an issue about whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". I was walking around town a lot last night (because I was in the middle of a very engaging two-hour conversation with a particular someone...in freezing cold temperatures, I might add) and I saw one gentleman walk past another and say, "Happy Holidays". Now, the usual response to such a greeting would be, "You too", "Happy Holidays, or "Merry Christmas". The guy's was response was with the latter. However, the issue wasn't with the particular phrasing that he chose to use, it was with the tone in which he responded.

After he heard the other gentleman greet him, he turned around and responded and, in doing so, placed much emphasis on the consonants in the beginning of both "Merry" and "Christmas". Now, the second guy, obviously, was offended by the opening greeting from the first guy. That's understandable. However, to make a public spectacle over another person's nice gesture is just, well, rude.

I understand that there are people out there that prefer saying one greeting over the other. However, if someone says "Merry Christmas" to me, regardless of how I feel I'm going to respond back with the exact same greeting. It's just not something worth fighting over.

I laughed when Bill O'Reilly declared that there was a "war on Christmas". It was merely the fringe of non-believers making a lot of noise. Anything associated with controversial historical occurrences and/or religion will always be met with opposition from small groups of individuals.

And why are they doing this? Because it riles up the media and it strikes a chord with most Americans. By simply ignoring these people, their arguments and protests will fall upon deaf ears and they will return to whence they came.

Christmas, to me, always created the best childhood memories for me. These specific memories have absolutely nothing to do with what I got from Santa, my parents, or my grandparents. The best of my childhood memories stem from being with my family and spending time with them. As I have gotten older, the family gatherings during the holidays have gotten smaller and harder to schedule. Family members have passed away and others have grown up and moved away. This happens; it's a part of life. I also realize that these moments were special because these particular people are no longer here and I remember how wonderful it was just to have had them around.

My brothers and I would always spend Christmas Eve with our Dad and stepmom. We would go over to his house, eat a succulent meal, hand out gifts one by one (with someone playing the role of "Santa"), and spend the rest of the evening exchanging stories and memories of Christmases past. We would always leave around 8pm or 9pm and drive back to our Mom's place.

Our Mom would always allow us to open just one gift before we went to bed. It was usually a pair of pajamas (I actually enjoy pajamas, socks, and underwear now more than anything) or some other article of clothing. However simple it was, it has become tradition and traditions remain in our hearts and minds for as long as we're on this Earth.

Right before going to sleep, we would always set out a plate of cookies, a glass of milk, a carrot for Rudolph, and a signed letter for Santa. When we woke up in the morning, the cookies would only be partially eaten, the milk was all gone, and nibbles were taken out of the carrot.

The distribution of gifts would always build up to the gift that my Mom always felt was the "gotcha" gift for that year. This would sometimes be a tag-team effort with her and the Grandparents. One of our first gifts may have been a video game or a CD (back when CD players were rare...I know, I'm old) or something else that would prelude a bigger and/or compatible gift.

After we opened gifts, our Grandparents and Uncle would come down and bring along their gifts. We'd go through another round of that and would gradually start getting ready for Christmas dinner together. These, as difficult as it is to believe, are what I miss the most. I miss my Grandfather always demanding sweet potatoes and his large chunk of dark turkey meat. I miss the ambrosia salad that I thought was gross until I developed a palate that opened a door to the fascinating world of healthy foods. I miss the discussions, the laughter, the jokes (even dirty jokes made their way to the table), the food, feeding the food to our dog under the table, and I even miss my Grandfather's opening prayer (a traditional saying in many Catholic families).

Despite how "religious" that may sound, I never saw it that way or, at least, to the degree that many others do. Sure, I know what the entire day and season mean, but everyone's Christmas season is different.

I see those days and those memories as the cornerstones to my life and what makes me the man that I am today. As I got older, Christmases started to lose their luster and people started getting older and, eventually, began passing on. Each Christmas we'd talk about how much we missed the other person and all of our memories of them. Then, another would pass on; the cycle of missing and memories would, again, come to fruition. This pattern changed on December 7th, 2006; the day that my nephew, Tyler Nicholas Cornwall, came into this world and into my life.

I instantly and unconditionally loved him. My life was put on hold and I was determined to help raise him and to help create memories for him in the same way that my parents did for me. That Christmas, merely 18 days after he was born, I rediscovered the magic of Christmas. You see, the positive memories that my family made for me were paramount to me creating positive memories for Tyler. His joy is all I look forward to experiencing each year. Everything else is just an added bonus.

The magic of Christmas, to me, stems from the memories that were created and shared. Sure, religion played a role in it; however, the childhood memories are what shaped me to become the man that I am today. From this day forward, my Christmases are geared towards maintaining the cycle of childhood memories that my family bestowed upon me. To deny a child of happiness and childhood memories is not something that I can personally do.

I understand that holidays have a deeper, more meaningful purpose behind them. However, regardless of how one feels about that holiday, creating memories, particularly childhood memories, play a very important role in each of our lives. There are many lifelong lessons to be learned while spending time with your family on the holidays. Each of these people, regardless of how annoying we may think they are, played a role in our life. Whether it was a laugh, a gift, or an embrace, that person won't always be there.

We only get a small window in life to spend time with the people that we love and it's very important that we all make the most of each opportunity. When these people are no longer with us, the chances to create memories with them are also no longer with us. It's important to make the most of each situation.

The Christmas season is different to everyone and we all celebrate it in our own way. If someone says, "Happy Holidays" to you, they're merely trying to be polite. So, return the favor. The last thing we need in this world is someone that we don't know dragging us down during the happiest time of the year. The same applies to people saying, "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". You're not that important and nobody really cares about what you think. Just return the favor, smile, and continue on your way.

As I sit here and write this on a cold Montana day, I really want to take the opportunity to thank the people that were responsible for giving me all of those wonderful memories and that helped me to become the man that I am today.

Grandpa John- Thank you for always being the "glue" in our family. Thank you for always getting gifts that were sentimental, particularly the Christmas before you passed away. You always knew how much we enjoyed camping with you each summer and how important those memories were to us. On our last Christmas, you had gone out of your way to buy us all of the necessary camping gear that we would need; to continue the tradition and to help create more memories. I find myself talking to you from time to time...hoping to hear your voice again. It still hasn't happened, but I haven't given up hope. I love you and I miss you, so very much. Rest in peace.

Grandma Terry- You were the cornerstone of the family. Despite your size, you were one of the strongest people that I have ever met. Your attention to each individual detail was unmatched. You always shook your head and rolled your eyes at the jokes that we would sometimes tell. The love that you had for your husband, John, will forever be the example that I hope to emulate. I miss your smile, your hugs, your cooking, and I miss the small, silent leader that you always were. Your husband loved you so very much and I hope that the two of you are holding hands and looking down on us as we try to continue the traditions that you both bestowed upon us. We may, at times, fail, but our intentions are geniune. I love you and I miss you, so very much. Rest in peace.

Mom- You always knew how to go out of your way to make each Christmas special. I will always remember baking cookies, egg rolls, Russian tea cakes, and your chocolate pies. I'll also remember how much you would sacrifice to ensure that we never knew how difficult times were for you and the family. You always created happiness and positive memories despite how much we were struggling. So many of my Christmas memories and traditions come from you and I don't want you to ever forget how much that means to me. I love you, Mom.

Dad- Despite never getting the opportunities to be with you on Christmas morning, you always knew how to surprise us. Whether it was a 1983 Dodge Aries (my first car), a football, athletic gear, or a remote-controlled car, you always made sure to send us back to our Mom's house with a smile. I can't thank you enough for moving away from eating lamb on Christmas and actually cooking food that was more within the norm of society. Turkey and ham are a much better option. Thank you for providing us boys with the necessary qualities that have contributed to us becoming men. You could have gone home after the divorce, but you chose to stay. A huge sacrifice that doesn't go unrecognized. I'm eternally thankful that you're my father and I have, do, and will always love you.

My Brothers (Brian & Phil)- You guys have been there each and every year. I remember having to "fake" my belief in Santa Clause for two years after I found out at an early age. It wasn't easy, but it made me realize that, sometimes, childhood cheer and memories are more important than the truth. I remember the cheap little gifts you two would always get me while you were in elementary school. As we got older, the cooler our gifts would be. Whether it was a CD, a DVD, or a game...you guys always knew how to make the most of it. I look forward to our first Christmas together (hopefully next year) and I want the both of you to know that I will always love you.

Tyler- My life was saved the moment I held you. Before that moment on December 9th, 2006, I never thought I could love someone completely and unconditionally again. You changed all of that. The moment that I held you was the moment that my ego and my over-inflated sense of self-worth were dissipated. You will always be like my own son. You saved me that day and I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you unconditionally and making sure that your childhood is filled with memories of joy, laughter, and hugs. I love you, Tyler. Thank you for being born.

Impeachment of Louisiana District Judge G. Thomas Porteous

For the eighth time in history, and the first time this century, the Senate has removed a federal judge from office. On Wednesday, Louisiana District Judge G. Thomas Porteous was found guilty of all four articles of impeachment. He was also found guilty on charges of corruption.

Porteous becomes the first federal official since President Bill Clinton to be impeached and the first since Chief Judge Walter Nixon of the Southern District of Mississippi on November 3, 1989 to be removed from office. President Bill Clinton appointed former-Judge Porteous back in 1994.

On March 11, 2010, the House of Representatives approved all four articles of impeachment against Porteous. On March 17, 2010, the Senate organized Porteous’ impeachment trial. Finally, on December 7th, 2010, Porteous was removed from office and, by approval of a motion, was disqualified from ever holding office again.

Each of the four articles of impeachment requires a minimum 2/3 vote in the Senate. Porteous was accused of “incompatible with the trust placed in him”, a “longstanding pattern of conduct that demonstrates his unfitness to serve”, making false statements in his bankruptcy filing, and making false statements to the Senate and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with his nomination to the federal bench.

Before impeachment proceedings can begin, a quorum must be assembled. A quorum is the necessary number of Senators needed in order to fully carry out the task at hand. Of the 100 Senators, 96 were present in this process. In the process of an actual impeachment, the House of Representatives vote for the articles of impeachment and the Senate votes for the impeachment and the removal of the official from their current office. The Senate can also disqualify them from holding office ever again.

According to the Senate Impeachment Trial Committee, the “procedures and constitutional requirements” in Senate trials of an impeached judge are “somewhat less well-defined than those of criminal trials”. Because of the seriousness of each impeachment, every procedural process is different.

The Constitution does not specify as to whether or not the person impeached has the legal right to counsel, the role of the Executive Branch and the amount of involvement in the procedural process, and the “value of precedent with respect to the structure of the proceedings”. There is very little “constitutional guidance” in regards to the procedures by which to conduct an impeachment trial.

Cancer

Picture yourself as a head CEO or decision-maker for a major company. Keep in mind that your basic mindset is: keep the stockholders happy, make sure that there is a constant demand for your product, job security for you and everyone else that works for the company, stay ahead of the competition, and to expand the company.

If you owned a jean company, would you produce pairs of jeans that lasted for years or would you produce jeans that started to deteriorate after a certain amount of time? Which option would create a higher demand for your product? If consumers were only required to purchase one pair of jeans that lasted them for years on end, would the desire for your product increase or decrease? Wouldn't it be better to produce a product that would need to be replaced a year or so after its first initial use?

I want you to think about all of the business decisions that you would need in order to run a successful, efficient company. Now, envision yourself as a director of a major non-profit organization. Would you use similar business-minded decisions? Now, envision yourself as a director of a major cancer association. Do these two positions require similarly minded business decisions?

We all know or have known someone personally affected by cancer. In fact, there are many that may read this that have had cancer and managed to survive it. I tip my hat to you.

I watch a lot of sports. I always feel that Major League Baseball and the National Football League bring much attention (and financial donations) to the issue of breast cancer. However, I've done a lot of thinking about this and I'm starting to have mixed feelings about cancer.

We can all admit that cancer is a horrible thing for any person and/or family to go through. However, what happens when the most heavily-funded organization in the fight against breast cancer vows to work towards a cure? From a business standpoint, does this make any sense? If you worked hard to get to the top of an organization as successful as the American Cancer Society, would you work hard enough to put yourself and tens of thousands of people out of work? In my opinion, it's like trusting the oil companies to come up with alternative fuel options or ways to decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Even though these cancer awareness organizations are non-profit organizations, they're run like a business.

Why would Levi's create jeans that didn't rip in the same spot each and every time? Why would shoe companies build shoes that lasted? For one, it would decrease sales. Decreasing sales for any business or industry is not a desired strategy.

Businesses compete for our business and try to provide products that make our lives easier and better. Businesses are designed to create and continue a demand for their product/s. For example, Coca-Cola is the most successful soda company in the world. Why do they continually spend the most money advertising? They have a budget and create financial goals for themselves to meet so that they can continue to satisfy stockholders and to expand.

Can we say the same thing about non-profit organizations that are designed to bring awareness and to attempt to come up with a cure? Are we, in some way, merely fueling a system that becomes dependent upon donations and volunteers? Sure, we feel good donating to these causes and volunteering our time, but are we actually making a difference?

Are these organizations functioning under the same mindset as the military industrial complex? If we had world peace, there would be no need for companies that specialized in making guns, tanks, etc. We would be destroying a crucial area of the job market.
I'm not trying to demonize the American Cancer Association or any other organization that pursues a cure for all forms of cancers and other debilitating medical diagnoses. However, I'm asking people to think about it. Think about the job security of delaying or putting off a cure for cancer so that one can continue to have work. As more and more people are becoming diagnosed with cancer, the number of people willing to donate in hopes of helping to find a cure.

Cancer is something that we will all, most likely, either deal with personally or amongst those we love. As long as people have cancer, there will always be job security in the American Cancer Society.

What I'm getting at is this: Can we logically trust an organization to scientifically develop a cure for cancer when doing so would go against their basic business mindset? Would you help out the organization or business that you worked for develop a computer program or a machine that would make your job obsolete and unnecessary?

The Notebook

Now, I know what most of you are thinking, "Dude, that's a chick movie and you're writing a blog about it?"
Yes, I am.
The first time that I saw this movie, it brought me to tears. My tears, however, were much different than most other people's. You see, this movie connects with me on an entirely different level.
This movie reminds me of my grandparents. It reminds me of how much my grandfather truly loved my grandmother. I know that some people may think that I'm saying that, but I saw just how true it was.
I believe the year was 1999-2000. My Mom received a serious call from my grandfather. Something was desperately wrong with my grandmother. Everyone in the family was contacted.
When we got there, we learned that she has a stroke and was in a coma. I remember seeing her day after day and she showed no response whatsoever. They would press on her sternum and she would show discomfort, but she showed no real signs of life. It was horrible seeing her like that. It ripped me apart inside seeing her lying there, helpless...lifeless.
I remember the look in my grandfather's eyes. He had spent so much time crying and he hadn't slept in days. The doctor came in to tell him that he should really go home and rest a while and then return. I still remember hearing what he told the doctor, "That's my sweetheart in there. I'm not going to leave her." And he never did.
He was there every night and every day. I never saw what real love was until that very moment. He never left her side.
She eventually woke up out of her coma and the entire family was full of joy. The look on my grandfather's face was that of relief.
They say that when you get married that you exchange vows. Each party vows to be there for the other, until death do you part. He stood by that vow. He never left her side, she was never alone.
From that point on, I had hope in my heart. I saw the true power of love and the miracles that it creates. My parents never demonstrated what a healthy relationship consists of or what one actually looks like. In fact, I never believed in marriage until I saw my grandfather and the fact that he loved my grandmother with all of his heart.
The Notebook reminds me of them. It reminds me of my grandfather, Big John. He was a huge man, but he had the biggest heart. And the love that he had for my grandmother, gives me hope.
It's because of him that I know the miracles that love can create. I've met people that don't really see what the big deal with marriage is. They see all of the failing marriages around them and it deters them from making that step.
I've come close, once. My first girlfriend. Her name was Kristol. I loved her with all of my heart. We were together for 3 years. From 1998-2001. Ever since her and I broke up, I have never been able to love another woman as much as I had loved her. I guess that I can't do it because of the fear of hurting as much as I did. I'm afraid to take that leap; a leap of faith.
Maybe it just hasn't happened because I haven't met the right person. Because deep down inside, I know what I'm capable of. I know what my heart is capable of. I learned it from my grandfather.
I like this movie because it makes me think of them. It makes me sad that both of them are gone, but it makes me happy because of the life lesson that they showed me. Even in her dementia-ridden days (after he had passed away), she would always talk about John "coming to pick her up". She never forgot about him. She forgot about a lot of things, but not him. Her heart was stronger than her mind's weakness.
That's what love is, the strongest of any emotion. Despite what people may think about me, I believe in all of this fairytale stuff. I'm not saying that it's going to happen for me. What I'm saying is that it's possible. And that sliver of possibility, makes me hopeful for what is yet to come.

RIP
John George Saegner, Sr. & Terry Jo Lavers- I love and miss you guys both so very much.

Removing the Filter

The strength of human compassion exceeds that of greed, ignorance, and hatred.
When it all comes crashing down, when the end is here,
The compassion of human beings will come to the surface.
When what separates us from others is gone,
We will all be the same.
When our material possessions vanish,
So will our egos, so will our biases.
We will no longer see color,
We will no longer see differences.
Because, in that moment, we will be as one.
Our hearts will swell and our sleeves will roll up our arms.
We will become the "have nots"; we will become human once again.
Our job titles and social standing,
Will lose their meaning, lose their importance.
For in this moment, we are all fighting to stay alive.
For the first time in our lives, our goals are the same.
It feels like July 5th, 1776,
September 12, 2001.
The Vietnam vet begging for change,
Once again becomes visible.
The filter that I used to wear every single day,
Is no more.
I no longer see statuses,
I no longer see advantages or disadvantages.
I am no longer myopic,
I no longer have tunnel-vision.
My uncalloused hands,
Become tools of hope; become the hands of compassion.
I now see the world through the eyes of the people that I've ignored,
The people that I've neglected,
Through the eyes of the people that the rest of the world ignored.
I now see children crying; scared, just as much as I.
My hands dig, my hands carry, and my hands comfort.
The hands that once held a diploma,
Now hold a crying girl, looking for her mother and father.
The hands that once held an iPod,
Now carry sandbags, stroke the head of an innocent child.
In times like these, we just want to be comforted.
These are the moments that pull us from our comfort zone,
Bring those that are "high up", crashing to the ground.
Are we capable of creating these moments now?
Can we create a state where the only thing that we know,
Is that we are all human?
That we all breathe the same air?
Can we roll up our sleeves and comfort someone in need?
Can we remove the filter from our eyes,
And see the world for what it really is?
We all live and we all die.
Nobody should have to go through life alone,
Nobody should have to feel inferior to someone else.
I have awoken,
I have removed the filter from my eyes.
I suggest that you do the same.

The Voice

The Voice

You're on your back,
You're down,
But you're not out.
We all end up here at one point or another.
This is your test.
Do you stay down or do you get back up?
I want you to do something for me.
Close your eyes,
Slowly take in a deep breath,
and listen.
You hear that?
Deep down inside,
Yeah, there.
Do you hear it?
That's called hope.
We all hear it.
Some choose to listen,
While others decide to ignore it.
What are you going to do?
Don't ignore it.
Let it envelope you,
Let it seep in,
Let it flow through you,
Let it become you.
Hope...
The one thing that separates those that do,
From those that do not.
I know that you're down,
But fret not.
Take it all in,
Remember this moment.
For this moment is a lesson,
A life lesson.
It won't always be like this.
Moments like this,
Are what create moments of happiness.
These are the moments,
Where everything falls into place,
If only for that time.
For in that moment,
Everything is yours;
You own that moment.
Now, envision those experiences from your past.
Believe that they will happen again.
You may feel alone,
But I'm here with you.
I'm that voice inside of you,
I'm the hope...
That beckons for your attention.
Believe in me,
Because I believe in you.
Through our cooperation,
Anything is possible.
The moments that cause many to fall,
Are the moments that you choose to excel.
Rise to your feet,
Hold your head high.
Realize the importance of that moment.
For one day we will share the same voice,
And my words will echo through you.
And your voice, will become someone else's hope.
And our hope,
Will be the inner voices of many.
For we are the voice of the world;
And it's our hope,
That will change the world for the better.

My Muslim Brothers and Sisters

My Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters,

I'm writing this to you in hopes that many of you read it before this Saturday. I am friends with many of you and many of you know me from our time spent discussing politics, American policy in the Middle East/Northern Africa, and discussing religious differences. Over that time I have grown to respect the Muslim faith and many of its followers. I feel that we reached a level of mutual understanding; a mutual understanding that I wish that all Americans could experience. I feel that our level of understanding, if experienced by all Americans, would forever lay to rest the "Islamophobia" that plagues this nation; this world.

Initially following September 11, 2001, I became a skeptic of the Muslim faith. In fact, I became a skeptic of all faiths. I felt that religion was the foundation that fueled the extremist actions of certain individuals (9/11, Branch Davidians, the FLDS XYZ Compound in Texas, etc.). However, I now know that I was wrong. It was wrong of me to judge an entire faith based upon the actions of a small group of individuals.

I believe that many of the Americans that can be labeled as "Islamophobic" have never personally known a Muslim man, woman, and/or child. They have never sat down with a Muslim and had a cup of قهوة عربية‎ Many of them don't understand the Muslim prayer ritual and what it entails. And many of them believe the words of influential (albeit, uninformed) radio/cable TV personalities that have never taken the time to personally know a Muslim.

It's wrong to judge Americans because of the actions of Michael Enright (NYC cab-driver stabbing).
It's wrong to judge Americans for the actions of Terry Jones.
And it's wrong to judge Muslims for the actions of 19 al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001.

I'm writing this in hopes that many of my fellow Americans will agree with what I say.

We do not blame Muslims for 9/11. We know that you, like us, stood there in awe as the Twin Towers fell to the ground. We know that you felt the same pain that we did because, like us, you love this country and the freedoms that it provides.

So, if Terry Jones and the rest of the Dove World Outreach Center do, in fact, burn Quran's on September 11, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida, please understand...

- That we detest these actions just as much as you.
- That their actions are merely an attempt to gain media attention.
- That we are as offended by their actions as you are.
- And that their actions are not a reflection of the United States or its citizens.
- With that being said: Terry Jones and his followers are to America as Osama bin Laden and the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists are to Muslims.

I understand that the "pending" actions of Terry Jones and his followers may anger you and may upset you. However, don't let their actions prevent you from reaching out and creating friendships with non-Muslims, such as my Muslim friends did with me. Many of my Muslim friends took the time to sit down and explain the beauty of their faith with me. They answered my many questions; possibly the same questions that many "Islamophobic" Americans have, but will never take the time to actually ask a Muslim.

All it took was patience, understanding, and respect. That's it. One Muslim man and one agnostic man reached a level of mutual understanding and respect.

I never thought that I would ever know a faith, a culture, and/or a people more than I know Muslims. I also know that this level of understanding is realistic and attainable for all or most Americans.

Americans fear what they do not know. Tensions may be high now, but, with patience, understanding, and respect (and, ultimately, time), I feel that relations between Muslims and Americans will improve.

We, as Americans, hope and pray that Terry Jones and his followers do not go forth with their plans to burn copies of the Quran. We find the act deplorable, disgusting, and done out of ignorance and out of a complete lack of understanding.

الحُمْقُ داء ولا دواء له

They are only doing this because they want attention and, quite possibly, to compel Muslims to react unfavorably. In other words, they're doing this to "push your buttons". By giving them what they want (death threats, protests, media attention) you are fulfilling their expectations; you're giving them what they want.

We're asking you to prove them wrong. Show them that their actions are not going to incite the violent reaction that they're hoping for. Demonstrate to them that Islam is a religion of peace. On Saturday, there will be cameras specifically looking for anything that "justifies" their actions or that could be used for anti-Muslim propaganda. This is an opportunity to follow in the steps of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

مصائب قوم عند قوم فوائد

I love the United States and I'm proud to be an American. I would love to see the day when the majority of Americans share a mutual understanding with members of the Muslim faith. I know that this is possible. This Saturday could be a crucial building block in the path of understanding between Muslims and Americans. Do not trade the handshake for the fist. We are all in this together; and together, we can start making this an America that excludes no one.

السلام عليكم